Regulator



Dec. 8, 1925- l.564,686

J. L. KIMBALL REGULATOR Original Filed March 28, 1921 2 Sheets-$heet 127 10612227 WLW J. L. KIMBALL REGULATOR Dec. .8, 19 5. l.564,686

Original Filed March 28 {1921 2 Shts-SMH 2 Patented Wee.

oar-r JAMES LEWIS KIMBALL, F SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOJR. TORUGGLES-KLINGE- restate rararrr v caries.

MANN MFG. CU, 0F SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATIUN OF MASSACHUSETTS.

REGULATOR.

Continuation of application serial No. 456,148, filed March 28, 1921.This application filed November 14, 1924. Serial No. 749,912.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Regulators, of which the following 118 a specification.

The present i nvention relates to control systems and more particularlyto regulators for controlling the pressure of pressure systems. Thepresent application is a continuation of application Serial No. 456,148,filed March 28, 1921.

Pressure systems are commonly automatically regulated through the agencyof diaphragms that are responsive to variations in the pressure of thesystem, such, formample, as the pressure of the steam generated by aboiler.

The diaphragm acts upon a scale beam that controls some mechanism forregulating the pressure of the system. In some pressure systems, thescale beam is acted upon by a second diaphragm that is responsive to thepressure of the water that is pumped into the boiler, or, as it istermed,

the feed-line pressure. The two diaphragms exert forces upon the scalebeam in opposite directions, and the scale beam is operated in onedirection or the other according to .whether the force exerted by theone'diaphragm or the other is predominant. lln

such systems. it is usually desirable to maintain the feed-line pressurein excess of the mined, uniform will cause the sc steam pressure of theboiler by a predetere amount. Any variation 0r ale beam to operate insuch direction as will tend to restore the desired conditions.Regulators for controlling a pressure system of this type may termedexcess-1n'essure-boller-feed regulators.

An ob ect of the invention 1s to provide an improved regulator of theabove-named A further object is to provide a regulator in which thescale beam shall control a powerful, the operatlon o wlth a minimumtrolled independently of the steam generated by the boiler.

pressure-regulating motor, t which shall be attended of friction andshall be con- The motor may be of the fluid-operated, electric, or anyother desired type. The operation of the motor is effected without theuse of a stufting box, thus further reducing the friction.

llxcess pressure boiler feed regulators have hitherto been restricted,in practice, to the control of steamor turbine-driven pumps, and thevariations in the pressure of the system were communicated to athrottling-valve located in the steam-supply pipe.

It is therefore a further object of the invention to provide an improvedregulator of the above-described character that shall be of more generalapplication. To this end, the. regulator of the present invention may beused not only to operate throttling valves, but also to controlelectric-motor rheostats, shift motor-controlling belts, operatepowerdriven pump clutches, and the like.

Other and further objects will be explained in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagram matic viewillustrating the present invention in a preferred form; and Fig. 2 isan-enlarged view is compared to Fig. 1, partly in section, of a portionof the apparatus shown in Fig. l.

The invention may be used in connection with any desired number ofboilers 50, two being diagrammatically shown for illustrative purposes.The boilers may be of the ordinary steam-generating variety or of anyother desired kind, such as the mercury type, and the'term steam will beemployed in the, specification and the drawings in this generic sense.A. water pipe 1 is supplied with water by a centrifugal pump 52 that isdriven by an electric motor 54. The water pipe 1 extends across thefront of the boilers. as is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1. and isconnected with valves 2 for controlling the supply of water to therespective boilers. The water pipe 1 is connected with a pressurechamber 3 of the regulator. A pipe 4 connects the steam chambers of theboilers with a pressure chamber 5 of the regulator. The pressurechambers 3 and 5 are independent of each other and are oppositely dis-.osed, as is illustrated more particularly in big. 2. The pressurechambers are closed by flexible, rubber diaphragms and 11, re-

p the pressure of the steam .which is indicated at 15. The

spectively. A double diaphragm is thus provided, one side of which is exosed to the pressure of the water supplie by the pump and the-other sideof which is exposed to the pressure of the steam generated by theboiler. A member 12 is interposed between the diaphragms. The member 12is provided with flanges 56 at'its ends and the flanges are disposed incontact with the atmospheric sides of the diaphragms. A scale beam 13 isconnected with the member 12 at 58 and is fulcrumed at 14. The scalebeam is thus controlled in accordance with variations of enerated by theboilers and the pressure 0% the water supplied by the pump. By avoidingthe use of a stuffing box, the friction .is lessened and the sensitivitythereby increased. A weight 24 is mounted upon the scale beam 13 so asto apply a force upon the diaphragm 10 in excess of the force exertedupon the diaphragm 11. The feed-line pressure is in this mannermaintained above the boiler pressure by a value determined by the weight24 and its position upon the scale beam 13.

The speed of the motor 54 is controlled by a rheostat 8. The rheostat iscontrolled by a counter-weight 9 and a reversible motor- 23. The motormay be of any desired type, such as electric, but is illustrated ashydraulically operated. A chain or flexible cord 6 is coiled around adrum of an arm 62 of the rheostat and extends over sheaves or pulleys 7.One end of the chain is se' cured to the counterweight 9., The othertion of the motor plunger corresponds a definite position of therheostat arm and,t-here fore, a definite control of the electric motor.

When the feed-line pressurein the chamber 3 exceeds the steam pressurein the cham: her 5 by an amount determined by the counterweight- 24 andits position upon the scalebeam, the latter will occupy 1ts normal,balanced position. Variation in the pressure of either chamber willresult in corresponding movement of the member 12 an this will beconverted into movement of the scale beam. The-movement of the scalebeam, in turn. is communicated to a controlling element 17 for the motor23. If

the motor 23 is electric, the controlling element may be a pilot switch.If the motor is hydraulic, as illustrated, the controlling element maybe a pilot valve,- the stem. of iIot-valve stem 15 is rovidedwith cylinrical portions 26 an 27 that control the admission of fluid underpressure to, and its exhaust from, the cylinder of the motor 23. 'Thepilot'valve stem may be directly connected with the scale beam by a yoke16, as is illustrated in the before-mentioned application. It ispreferred, however, for reasons more fully explained in a copendingapplication, Serial No. 574,975, filed July 14., 1922, to connect theyoke 16 indirectly to the scale beam through a link 63 and a floatinlever 65, the latter of which is intermediately pivoted to the scalebeam at 67. The construction is such, as is explained in the saidapplication, Serial No. 574,975, that the floating lever and the scalebeam move up and down practically as a unit in response to pressurechanges, effecting a corresponding movement in the pilot-valve stem 15.Reference may be made to the said application for a fuller description,a knowledge of which is not, however, necessary to an iunderstanding ofthe present invention.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, the preferred pilot valve 17 isshown provided with an inlet opening 18 and an outlet or exhaust opening19. he inlet opening may be connected to any suitable source of fluidunder pressure, such as the water mains or compressed air. The underside of the piston 22 is connected with the valve 17 by a passage 20 andthe upper side by a passage 21. A passage 28, cored in the side of thevalve casing, connects the lower portion 'of the valve with the exhaustopening 19. The valve stem is illustrated in the neutral position, inwhich admission of fluid to, and its exhaust from, the motor cylinder isprevented, to maintain the piston against movement. When the valve stem15 is raised by the scale beam 13, water under pressure (assumingconnection to the hydraulic mains) is admitted through themlet opening18 and the passage 20 to the under side of the piston 22. The upperportion of the motor cylinder is at the same time vented to theatmosphere by way of the passages 21 and 28 and the waste connection 19.The piston 22 is thus caused to move upward,'permi tting thecounterweight 9 to actuate the rheostat arm 62. When the scale beam islowered, on the other hand, the valve stem- 15 is also lowered. Thelower portion of the motor cylinder is then connected by the passage 20with the atmosphere and the upper portion of the cylinder lsrconnectedwith the inlet opening 18 by the passage 21. The motor piston 22 is.thus moved downward, causing the actuation of the rheostat arm 62 inthe opposite direction.

Regulators of the above-described character have a tendency to hunt,permitting the actuation of the motorand, therefore,

of the rheostat or other controlled device,

motor actuation. The pressure is thus caused to build up to a value toofar to one side of the normal. The regulator thereupon proceeds tooperate in the opposite direction, but does not become checked until thepressure attains a value too far to the other side of vthe normal. Toredueethis hunting action, the regulator is provided with a compensatimattachment. A rod v64 is secured to the piston rod 22 in any desiredmanner, as by meansof a screw 66. A cam or wedge 68 is adjustablysecured to the lower end of the rod 64 at a small angle to the vertical.This angle may be varied, as desired, by means of pin-and-slotarrangements 69, 71. The wedge is engaged by a roll 70 at one end of apivoted bell-crank lever 72, the other end of which is connected, bya'spring 74, with the scale beam. The bell-crank lever 72 is providedwith a projecting arm 73 that is connected by a link 7 5 to the floatinglever (35.

Assuming that the scale beam rises in response to a pressure variation,the valve.

stem 15 will be raised to cause the motor piston to move upward. As themotor piston moves, it carries the wedge 68 with it, causing thebell-crank lever 72 to react upon both the scale beam and thepilot-valve stem. Upon the scale beam the bell-crank lever will exert anincreasing force, through the spring 74, in opposition to the forcewhich caused the scale beam to rise. This effects a change in thepressure setting of the diaphragm. The pilot-valve stem will at the sametime tend to be returned to its neutral position by the connections 16,63, 65, GT, 75, 73 and 72. There is thusa tendency for the pilot-valvestem to be returned to its. neutral position without affecting theequilibrium of the scale beam, and independently of 'the scale beam. Assoon as the valve stem is returned to its neutral position, the movementof the motor piston is stopped. The motor piston has, in the meantime,had its effect upon the position of the rheostat arm 62, causing a,corresponding change in the operation of the motor 58. This motor acts uon the pump to cause a change in the eed-line pressure. A similareffect, in the opposite direction, takes place when variations inpressure cause a lowering of the scale beam.

Though a. more sensitive response is produced by using the floatinglever, the operation would be the same if the pilot-valve stem weredirectly connected to the'scale beam. A further increase in sensitivityis produced by the vuse of notches 76 in the wedge 68, though these,too, are not essential to the operation, as a floating or otherincremental control is also effective. The notches 76 cause abruptaction of the bellcrank lever and, therefore, an abrupt return of thepilot-valve stem to its neutral position and this, in turn, serves toaccentuate the travel of the motor piston and, therefore, of therheostat arm 68. The entire compensating effect tends thus to beobtained at definite cut-off points, corresponding to the position ofthe notches 7 (3. The motor piston thus tends to operate betweendefinite point-s and to stop at those points. Hunting to one side or theother of the points is eliminated. This step-by-step control is offurther advantage if the steps are made to correspond to the contactpoints of the rheostat. If the motor 23 controls a steam-driven pump,the floating control is equallyv good.

In operation, a switch (not shown) is first operated to close thecircuit (not shown) of the motor 54. The motor thereupon operates todrive the pump 52. The pump, in turn, supplies the boilers with waterunder a pressure that is communicated to the pressure chamber 3. As soonas the pressure in this chamber exceeds the boiler or steam pressure bya predetermined amount, the value of which depends upon the weight 24and its position upon the scale 7 beam, the pressure in the chamber 3will overcome the boiler pressure in the chamber 5, causing the scalebeam to be raised. The valve stem lo will thereupon be raised causing,in its turn, the raising of the motor piston 22 and the actuation of therheostat arm 62 to cause the insertion of resistance in the motorcircuit. The pump is thereupon slowed down, thus relieving the pressurein the pressure chamber 3. Theoperation of the motor piston 22 will bechecked by the wedge 68, as above described, to minimize hunting. If theboiler pressure in the chamber 5 should be reduced, a similar re sultwill follow. If the boiler pressure should be increased, or thefeed-line pressure reduced, on the other hand, the plunger 22 would bemoved downward, causing the removal of resistance from the motorcircuit, and consequent speeding up of the pump. A substantially uniformpressure in excess of the boiler pressure is thus maintained in thechamber 3.

Modifications may be made by persons skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, and such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of the invention, as defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a steam-generating system comprising a boiler, a pump forsup-plying the boiler with water, and a motorfor driving the pump,meansindependent of the steam generated by the boiler for driving thepump motor, a motor for controlling the pump motor, and means forcontrolling the cont rolmotor, and means for controlling thefluidoperated motor, said means being controlled in accordance with thevariations-in the pressure of the steam generated by the boiler and thepressure of the water supplied by the pump. v

\3- In a steam-generating system comprising a boiler,a pump forsupplying the boiler with water, a motor for driving the pump and adouble diaphragm one side of whichis exposed to the pressure of thewater sup plied by the pump and the other side of which is exposed tothe pressure of the steam generated by the boiler, means independent ofthe steam generated by the boiler for driving the pump motor, a motorfor controlling the pump motor, and means controlled by the doublediaphragm for controlling the controlling motor.

4:. In a fluid-pressure system having two pressure chambers, a pump forcontrolling the pressure in one of'the chambers, a fluidoperated motorfor controlling the pump, a source of fluid pressure independent 'of thefluid pressure in the chambers for operating the fluid-operated motor, apilot valve for controlling thesupply'of fluid pressure from the sourceto the motor, and means for controlling the pilot valve in accordancewith variations in pressure in the pressure chambers.

5. In a steam-generating system comprising a boiler, a pump forsupplying the boiler with water, a motor for drivingthe pump, and adouble diaphragm one side of which is exposed to the pressure of thewater supplied by the pump and the other side of which is exposed to thepressure of the steam generated by the boiler, a fluid-operated motorfor controlling the pump motor, a

source of fluid pressure independent of the, steam generated by theboiler and of the water supplied by the pump for operating thefluid-operated motor, a pilot valve for controlling the supply of fluidpressure from the source to the fiuid-operated motor, and meanscontrolled by the double diaphragm vfor controlling the pilot valve.

6. In a fluid-pressure system comprising a fluid generator, means forsupplying the fluid generator, and means'independent of the fluidgenerated by the generator for driving the supplying means, means forcontrolling the driving means, and means controlled in accordance withthe variations in pressure of the fluid supplied by the generator and ofthe supply of the supplying means for controlling the controlling means.

7. In a steam-generating system comprising a boiler, a pump forsupplying the boiler with water, and a motor for driving the pump, meansindependent of the steam generated by the. boiler for driving the motor,means for controlling the motor, a motor for controlling'the controllingmeans, and means for controlling the controlling motor, saidsecond-named means being con trolled in accordance with variations inthe pressure of the steam generated by the boiler and the pressure ofthe water supplied by the pump.

8. In a steam-generating system comprising a boiler and a pump forsupplying the boiler with water, an electric motor for driving the pumphaving a speed-controlling rheostat, and means for controlling therheostat in accordance with the variations in the pressure of the steamgenerated by the boiler and the pressure of the water supplied by thepump.

9. In a steam-generating system comprising a boiler, a pump forsupplying the boiler with water, and a motor for driving the pump, afluid-operated motor for controlling-the pump motor, a pilot valvehaving two effective positions in one of which it controls the operationof the fluid-operated motor in one direction and in the other of whichit controls the operation of the fluidoperated motor in the oppositedirection, the pilot valve having also a neutral position in which thefluid-operated motor is main tained against operation, and means forcontrolling the pilot valve in accordance with the pressure of the steamgenerated by the boiler and the pressure of the water sup plied by thepump to effect an incremental actuation of the fluid-operated motor,

10; In a steam-generating system comprising a boiler and a pump forsupplying the boiler with water, an electric motor for driving the pumphaving a manually operable switch for closing the circuit of the motorand'a speed-controlling rheostat, a fluidoperated motor,'operable inopposite directions, means whereby the operation of the fluid-operatedmotor in one direction effects the operation of the rheostat in onedirection, a counter-weight for operating the rheostat in the oppositedirection when the fluid-operated motor is operated in the op positedirection, a pilot valve having two ef fective positions in one of whichit controls the o eration of the fluid-operated motor in one irectionand in the other of which it controls the operation of thefluid-operated motor in the opposite direction, the pilot valve havingalso a neutral position in which the fluid operated motor is maintainedagainst operation, and means for controlling ueaesa the pilot valve inaccordance with the pressure of the steam enerated by the boiler and thepressure ot the water supplied by the pump to effect an incrementalactuation of the fluid-operated motor.

11. In a steam-generating system comprising a boiler, a pump forsupplying the boiler with water, and a motor for driving the pump, amotor for varyingly controlling the pump motor, the controllii g motorhaving a plurality of positions each corresponding to a differentcontrol of the pump motor, and means for operating the controlling motorto the said positions, the said means being controlled in accordancewith variations in the pressure of the steam generated by the boiler andthe pressure of the water supplied by the pump.

12. A fluid-pressure system having, in combination, two oppositelydisposed pressure chambers each having a diaphragm, the diaphragms beingdisposed opposite to each other, means for controlling the pressure inone of the chambers, means for controlling the pressure-controllingmeans, a scale beam exterior to the chambers interposed between andconnected to the diaphragms for controlling the second-named means,means for controlling the scale beam in accordance with variations inpressure in the pressure chambers, and a Weight upon the scale beam forexerting a force upon the diaphragm of the said one chamber to maintainthe pressure in the said one chamber in excess of the pressure in theother chamber.

13. The method of maintaining a substantially uniform excess pressure inthe water supplied by a pump to a boiler over the steam generated by theboiler that comprises driving the pump 'by' a motor that is driven froma source of energy independent of the steam generated by the boiler, andregulating the operation of the motor in accordance with variations inthe pressure of the steam generated by the boiler and the pressure ofthe water supplied by the pump.

14;. In a steam-generating system comprising a boiler, a pump forsupplying the boiler with water, and a motor for driving the pump, amotor for controlling the pump motor, an element for controlling thecon-- trolling motor having a neutral position in which the controllingmotor is maintained against operation and two effective positions inwhich it controls the operation of the controlling motor in; oppositedirections, and means for controlling the elementin accordance with the.pressure of the steam generated by the boiler'and the pressure of thewater supplied by the pump.

15. In a steam-generating system comprising a boiler, a pump forsupplying the boiler with water and a motor for driving the pump, amotor for controlling the pump motor, means for controlling thecontrolling motor, the said means being controlled in .the boiler andthe pressure of the water supplied by the pump, means controlled by thepressure-responsive device for rendering the controlling motor effectiveto actuate the speed-controlling means, and compensating meanscontrolled by the controlling motor for rendering the controlling motorineffective further to actuate the speed-controlling means.

17. In a steam generating system comprising a boiler, a pump forsupplying the boiler with water, and a motor for driving the pump, areversible motor for controlling the pump motor, an element forcontrolling the controlling motor having a neutral position in which thereversible motor is maintained against operation and two effectivepositions in which it controls the operation of'the reversible motor inopposite directions, means for moving the element to the one or theother effective position, the moving means being controlled inaccordance with the pressure of the steam generated by the boiler andthe pressure ot the water supplied by the pump, and compensating meanscontrolled by the controlling motor for returning the element to theneutral position.

18. In apparatus for controlling boilerfeed-line pressure, consisting ofa pump for supplying the boiler with water, motive means for driving thepump, means for controlling the speed of the motive means, a motor foractuating the speed-controlling means, a pressure-responsive devicecontrolled in accordance with the steam generated by the boiler and thepressure of water supplied by the pump, means actuated by saidpressure-responsive device to control the motor which controls the speedcontrolling means, and compensating means operated by the motor forrendering the motor inoperativeand to cause a further change in eitherthe steam or pump pressure for a fur- 1 ther operation of the motor.

' 19. In apparatus for controlling boiler feed line pressure consistingof a pump for supplying the boiler with water, motive means for drivingthe pump, means for controlling the speed of the motive means, a

motor for actuating the speed-controlling means, a pressure-responsivedevice controlled in accordance with the steam generated by the boilerandthe pressure of water supplied by the pump, means actuated by saidpressure-responsive device to control the motor which controls thespeed-controlling means, and compensatingmeans operated by the motor foreffecting a greater or less pressure variation of either the pump orsteam pressure between the limits of operation of the motive means.

20. In a pressure controller, in combination, a pressure-responsivedevice consisting of two opposing pressure chambers, means to counteracta portion of the pressure in one of said chambers, a motor to controlthe pressure in the counteracted chamber a predetermined amount inexcess of the pressure in the other chamber, meansicontrolled byvariations in pressure in either of said chambers to operate the motor,and compensating means operated by the motor ,for rendering the motorineffective until a furtherchan e in pressure in either of said chamers.

21. In a pressure controller, in combination, a pressurerresponsivedevice consisting of two opposing pressure chambers, means to counteractaportion of the pressure in one of said chambers, a motor to controlthepressure in the counteracted chamber a predetermined amount in excess ofthe pressure in the other chamber, means controlled by variations inpressure in either of said chambers to operate the motor, andcompensating means operated by the motor for effecting a greater or lesspressure variation in either pressure chamber between the lim its ofoperation of the motor.

22. In apparatus for controlling boilerfeed pumps, a motor, meanscontrolled by said motor for controlling the speed of the pump, adiaphragm controlled in accordance with the pump pressure, meanscontrolled by said diaphragm for controlling the motor, means tocounteract the pressure on said diaphragm, means res onsive to variationin boiler pressure for c anging the pressure -settin of said diaphragm,and means operated y the motor for changing the pressure setting of saiddiaphragm, the last named means being for the purpose of ef- -fectiIig apredetermined variation in pressure between the operating limits of themo- .tor to prevent hunting action.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th dayof November, 1924.

JAMES LEWIS KIMBALL.

